Translocatable slurry-containing hopper

Abstract

Several aspects of this disclosure relate to a translocatable hopper that is mounted for example at the forward part of a front-end loader vehicle. The hopper receives, re-positions and delivers a slurry to a jobsite and preferably is detachably attached to a vehicle. In several embodiments, the hopper is translocatable from a resting position to a delivery position through one or more intermediate positions. Preferably, a front wall has an outlet gate and a chute extending therefrom. The chute is configured to direct slurry into the jobsite, A rising and falling sluice gate is associated with the chute. The slurry moves outwardly from the chute when the sluice gate is at least partially opened as the hopper is placed at or near or above the delivery position above the jobsite.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A translocatable hopper for receiving, re-positioning and delivering a slurry to a jobsite, the hopper being detachably attached to a vehicle, the hopper being translocatable from a resting position to a delivery position through one or more intermediate positions, the hopper comprising:
 a floor having a footprint that is substantially hexagonal for promoting a funneling effect; 
 walls extending upwardly from the floor, the walls including a front wall with a pair of inclined sections to urge the slurry towards a chute, a pair of side walls and a back wall that faces the vehicle; 
 the front wall having the chute extending therefrom, the chute being configured to direct slurry into the jobsite; 
 a rising and falling sluice gate associated with the chute, the gate being oriented in a plane that is inclined to a vertical plane when the hopper is in the resting position, the slurry moving outwardly from the chute when the sluice gate is at least partially opened as the hopper is placed at or near or above the delivery position; and 
 a hydraulic subassembly having a passive end region attached to an upper edge region of the sluice gate and an active end region attached to a lower end region of the sluice gate, the hydraulic subassembly being configured to raise and lower the sluice gate and support the sluice gate in an intermediate position. 
 
     
     
       2. The translocatable hopper of  claim 1 , the walls having an upper edge and a lower edge, so that when the hopper is in the resting position, slurry tends to pool, thereby creating a stabilized lowered center of gravity of an assembly of the hopper and the slurry. 
     
     
       3. The translocatable hopper of  claim 1 , wherein the hopper has a horizontal pitch axis (P), a longitudinally oriented roll axis (R) and a vertical yaw axis (Y). 
     
     
       4. The translocatable hopper of  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle has a leading end from which one or more forks extend to support the hopper, the lower edge of the back wall being pivotably attached to the leading end. 
     
     
       5. The translocatable hopper of  claim 1 , wherein a leading end of the vehicle can be raised from the resting position, lowered from the delivery position and moved between intermediate positions so that the hopper may be repositioned. 
     
     
       6. The translocatable hopper of  claim 3 , further including a vibrator for vibrating the hopper and the slurry about the longitudinal axis and/or the vertical axis so that drainage of the slurry from the hopper is facilitated. 
     
     
       7. The translocatable hopper of  claim 3 , further including a pitching device for pitching the hopper about the pitch axis (P) so that when the hopper is pitched forwardly over the jobsite and the sluice gate is opened, slurry flow is facilitated. 
     
     
       8. The translocatable hopper of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic subassembly includes a rod, a cylinder, a piston and one or more hydraulic lines connecting a source of hydraulic power and the cylinder so that the sluice gate can be raised and lowered and the hopper can be vibrated to facilitate delivery of the slurry. 
     
     
       9. The translocatable hopper of  claim 1 , wherein the chute has an upper edge affixed to the upper edge of the front wall, a triangular side wall with an apex situated at the upper edge of the front wall, a lower side extending from the lower edge of the front wall, and a hypotenuse side edge extending forwardly from the upper edge, the sluice gate being raised, lowered and supported by the hypotenuse side edge. 
     
     
       10. The translocatable hopper of  claim 1 , further including attachment plates extending rearwardly from a lower edge of the back wall for securing the hopper to the vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The translocatable hopper of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a multi terrain loader, a dump buggy, a track dumper-buggy, a concrete-power buggy, a radial skid loader, a vertical skid loader, a track loader and an articulated loader. 
     
     
       12. The translocatable hopper of  claim 1 , wherein the slurry is selected from the group consisting of concrete, cement, mortar, pebbles, rocks, gravel, compost, mulch, soil, dirt, construction waste, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       13. The translocatable hopper of  claim 1 , wherein the sluice gate is adapted to be positionable at or between a raised position, a lowered position and one or more intermediate positions. 
     
     
       14. The translocatable hopper of  claim 1 , wherein the hopper and the slurry have a center of gravity, so that as the slurry moves through the chute, the center of gravity moves rearwardly, thereby enhancing stability of the hopper, the slurry and the vehicle so that any forwardly-directed tipping tendencies of the hopper and the vehicle are mitigated.